India’s CBI To Investigate AgustaWestland VVIP Copter Deal

Shortly after 5PM today, the Indian government announced that it had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs, to conduct a full investigation into the allegations of corruption and payment of illegal commissions by AgustaWestland in the 2010 AW101 VVIP copter deal. Here’s the MoD’s full statement:

Press reports have appeared from time to time on the subject of Italian prosecutors having initiated a probe into the alleged unethical dealings of M/s. Finmeccanica, Italy. The probe had been widened to include the Indian contract signed with M/s. Augusta Westland (UK).

The said contract was signed in February, 2010 for the purchase of 12 helicopters. In view of media reports, MoD through the Ministry of External Affairs had sought information from the Governments of Italy and UK. No specific inputs were, however, received substantiating the allegations.

In a recent report, appearing in certain sections of the media, it has been reported that the Chairman of M/s. Finmeccanica has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the case of the sale of helicopters to India. The contract signed with M/s. Augusta Westland includes specific contractual provisions against bribery and the use of undue influence as well as an Integrity Pact.

Since no specific input has been received so far from the two Governments, MoD has decided to refer the case to CBI for inquiry.

32 Comments

Anonymous

Yeah CBI, congress bureau of investigation reporting to shinde, the job is done. Clean chit to congress, nobody is involved. This deal was done during BJP rule. Italians are fools to arrest the CEO. Jai Hind.

Indian

-Need to check who got the bribe and where those money actually gone/distributed /channelized..identify those individuals and put a Deshdroh case on them…if any political party got these bribes..disqualify them from contesting any future Elections.-Need to investigate if the bribe had any impact of compromise on quality selection process ?(should not be the case,because lots of air-forces/govts use Aw-101 for their VVIP transport heli role..IIRC even US was about to select AW-101 for Presidential Heli role.)– Need to fine heavily Finmecania for bribing if proven correct,for e.g. 50% of the deals to be repaid to Indian govt as punishment.-IAF need to do a quick Technical Audit of the already delivered AW-101s to check if actual performance parameters matches IAF qualitative requirements and to ensure that there has no compromise on quality happened.

Anonymous

Anonymous

History repeats itself. The Case has been referred to CBI. It would linger for 25 years. More public money would be spent on investigation than the actual bribe paid. ‘SHIV’ you have the power of the media, can you please convey my message to the world, that common men don’t want CBI inquiry anymore. Please ‘CBI KA NAAM AB MAT LO’.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Person accused of giving the bribe is said to be arrested, what about they who received the moolah at taxpayer's cost?Wait till the clean chit is given and the ruling party would again try and blame the opposition for this.

Anonymous

Congress is trying to do a cover-up on the chopper scam. Italy would've benefited with the deal, but still they went ahead with investigations and arrested people. They are serious but we are not, the country losing money not serious, but the country gaining money serious about the case.

Anonymous

12 VVVVVVIIP choppers?? That too foreign made??The RM/FM dont blink an eye when they slashed 10,000 crores off the defence budget but want to fly in 400 crore choppers. Why was the ALH or Mi-17 not sufficient? Is it because the lowly uniformed personnel fly in them?

ACM Krishnaswami has correctly pointed out that it was a whimsical purchase of India's corrupt ruling cabal

Anonymous

Anonymous

Why no one questions Mr Brown now…the most buys are in his period…MMRCA, C130, the apache…etc..and yes his baby Pilatus…how many of us know that the PSQR for the buy category was changed to suit the Pilatus Pc7…they were awarded the contract despite the fact that koreans contested that the life cycle cost section M3 and M4 were empty….for sure he will go to the same line as Mr Tyagi has…..and no wonder he was dying to place the repeat orders as well…is the media listening??

Anonymous

Omg i just dont get it.how much money does rahul gandhi want? He practically owns the country already.where the hell is he going to spend that kind of money.all congress mp's are filthy rich + they get allmost everything for free.why be sooo greedy.there is no logic to being so greedy.even rajeev gandhi could not spend the money he got from bofors.he got blown to pieces.aint karma a bitch.

Anonymous

It’s chuckling time again! I read the some of comments and wonder whether lot of naivety is shown here by the commentators? Giving bribe and taking bribe is, let’s face it, part of human nature to from day one. These are standard practices all over the world so why should people in India be any different? Bribing not only comes in way of passing money over to favour your products or services but other ways by favours etc.. This you will not be able to eradicate it from human race. So stop the hue and cry and let’s face it the money which has been paid out has probably already disappeared and won’t be able to get it back. Put people in gaol and with their connections etc. will get very easy life, rest and recuperate and come out and everything will be forgotten! Call in few favours and the cycle will begin again. When you compromise your morals then you have no other means to check yourself against right and wrong. There will be many more scams now and in future. Accept it as part of standard practice and move on… The question should be asked whether the equipment met the requirement, be that a helicopters’, planes, tanks or guns.Don't lose the sight of why you are buying equipment and deprive the nation and its people the tools by which it need to survive and function.

Italians are now our modern day masters. Rome and Vatican controls our government and Lady Maino is our viceroy. And our new masters need VVVIP choppers. Our military choppers can wait. So we Indian suckers better get ready to shell out more tax money so the Italians can kill more of our fishermen from their VVIP choppers.

Anonymous

All comments seem to about the corruption in India – no surprise there. What no one has mentioned – the fact that 101 is the best you can get. Same situation arose with Bofors – best you can get at the time and even one of the best around – but we got so wrapped up with corruption which is endemic in India that our armed forces lost out. Lets hope the same does not happen again.